Steve Staunton admits Darlington face two difficult away games in the next week.

The Quakers were buoyed by their first league win of the season in Staunton's first home game against Shrewsbury last Saturday.

But Staunton knows his players will need to at least maintain what was comfortably their best performance of the season for the rest of the season if they're to climb out of the relegation places.

"We've only won a game, there's a long way to go and we have two very tough away games coming up," said Staunton.

"We know last week's level of performance has to be matched, if not bettered. The players know that, they'd expect nothing less. We have to be dogged and determined, and if we can grind out any kind of result on Saturday, it will be another step in the right direction.

"I've seen what talent is here. I can see what they can do. They're hopefully getting a bit fitter each week, with the training they're doing, and the fitter they get the better we'll be as a unit.

"I felt we finished the game pretty strong last week, which was pleasing, and I'm looking for the lads to get fitter and stronger by Christmas and kick on after.

"The most pleasing thing last week was the determination to stop crosses coming into the box. It was fantastic. If they can do that last week they can certainly do it again this week and I've let them know it's going to be demanded of them.

"It's a part of the game that I don't think they've been used to. It's been OK letting things happen and just playing their own game at their own pace, but we put demands on them, both with the ball and without it.

"Last week was out first win and I'd like to think we're capable of grinding out a result, but we won't know that until Saturday afternoon.

"As long as I get the same commitment and level of performance from the players, that's all I can ask."